2007-12-27 20:18:19 · 5 answers · asked by anton c 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
Both are Reformation theologies but there are many differences between the two. Calvin was influenced by Martin Luther.
Luther and Lutherans believe that we are saved by the GRACE of God. Grace is a hugh word to Lutherans. We can not earn the salvation through works like Catholics, nor are only certain people saved as in predestination the way Calvinists believe.
That is the biggest difference between the two/ three theologies.
Now there are appearance differences between the two reformation movements. The Lutheran pastors will wear garments ,stole and albs ,similar to Catholics Priests garments for the services. Calvinists/Presbyterian ministers usually were black shirts and collars but some may wear the stoles and albs.
Communion is different . Lutherans believe in the REAL presence of the Body and Blood at communion but for Calvinist/Presbyterians communion is a memory meal.
Baptism is usually infant Baptism for both
2007-12-27 23:15:21 · answer #1 · answered by flautumn_redhead 6 · 4⤊ 3⤋
Interesting, my father-in-law and I had this conversation over Christmas dinner! He is a professor of history and poli-sci at the local Christian college and a retired minister of many years. He said that Calvin tried to fit the whole of scripture into an objective view based on the sovreignty of God. The main difficulty with Calvin was that his interpretation of sovreignty came from his experience with the kings of his day who were absolute sovreigns. So, he postulated that God operated in much the same way.
Luther, on the other hand, was reacting against what he perceived as abuse of the Bible. He preached grace and the love of God, but went so far as to almost completely dismiss the Old Testament of the Bible, saying only the New Testament was now valid.
The main objection to Calvinism seems to be the idea of predestination. People seem to think that, according to Calvin, God sets aside a certain group of people to enter the kingdom and everyone else goes to the Lake of Fire. In reality, the predestination manifests itself in that, when people come to the awareness of their need for God and confess their need, they are simultaneously becoming aware of the fact that God has chosen them.
It's all very heady stuff. A better foil to Calvin would be Jacob Arminius.
For all the bad press that Wikipedia gets, its really a good jumping-off point to get a broad overview of certain topics such as these...see the links below.
2007-12-28 12:36:08 · answer #2 · answered by Xerandiam 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Calvinism is a theological system and an approach to the Christian life that emphasizes the rule of God over all things.
(sorry but I don't really know about 'lutherianism')
2007-12-28 04:27:31 · answer #3 · answered by Brandon C 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Lutheranism is much like the Anglican, or Episcopalian, church in that it was a break with the Church of Rome in that it does not acknowledge the supremacy of the Pope. However, many of its rites are similar to those of the Roman Catholic Church. It does, however, preach salvation by faith, rather than works. It does not have a a celibate priesthood. Calvinism took things much further. Calvin preached 'predestination' - if you were one of the elect, you were ok, if not, pity about you. It is was one of the foundations of 'Puritanism'.
2007-12-28 05:26:35 · answer #4 · answered by rdenig_male 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
calvinism is a theological system of living that emphasizes the rule of God on all things. i'm not sure with lutherianism but i think it is a kind of a religious revolt by Luther. (not the black one but the one who was born in 1483)
2007-12-28 04:43:52 · answer #5 · answered by pao d historian 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋